Greytown Band of Hope.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1823, 21 April 1886, Page 2

Greytown Band of Hope.

A tea and entertainment took place last evening in connection with the above juvenile institution and was successfully carried through. It is a good thing for the rising generation in ennntry townships to spend an evening together once a week under the guidance of a few adults, who instil the principles of temperance and teach the rudiments of elocution and music. A very strong juvenile society existed in Greytown about three years ago, the members comprising children of all denominations, and the progress they made in singing and elocution showed that under proper tuition they were capable of holding their own with the boys and girls of the large cities. Unfortunately the temperance hall was sold, and for some time the back room of the old town hall had to be used as a meeting room. This was not always to be had, and the regularity of the meetings was often interfered with, until at Inst the meetings had to be discon* tinned much to the regret of the conductor and the young folks. There was no place suitable for a meeting room to be got apart from the Town Hall ante-room aave a barn, so it was dually decided to break up. The remembrance of the large concert and the monster picnic at the Willows got up entirely by the young people in connection with the Greytown Juvenile Mutual Improvement and Temperance Society will no doubt be remembered by all Greytown residents. Within the last twelve months, another effort has been made to gather the young people together. The Kev Mr Ward, assistec by Mr Johnston, started a Band of Hope am set apart the Wesleyan school room for tin meetings once a fortnight. This society hai made steady progress and last evening tin first tea and entertainment in connection will it was held, the tea taking place in the schoolroom and the entertainment in the church. As might be expected the boys and girls needed no pressing to partake of tlu sandwiches, cake, tarts and fruit which made the tables look so pleasing to the eye. The schoolroom was not large enough to hold the number of ticket-holders at one sitting and it was a very hard matter for those who oould not get in first to wait for the others to finish tea before they got a chance to "tuck into it.” The young ladies who waited upon the tables were as busy as bees and attended to the wants of all in a most methodical m anner. Several adults sat down with the children and were much pleased with the capital spread. The l{ev Mr Ward, Mr Johnson air'd ono or two other gentlemen directed alfiira and after nil had been satisfied inwardly the church doors were thrown nm »■..) » i.

number gathered to listen to the programme of dialogues, recitations, and choruses. The Rev J. Ward presided. Without any flattery we must say that those who took part acquitted themselves with great credit, some of (he most pleasing items on the programme being furnished by the very smallest children. Every one present thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we hope U will lead the adults vho stand aloof from tiro work of instructing lie young to show a little more sympathy vith this movement. Mr Johnson in ids

mirks at the close of the meeting said the society was increasing iu numbers and the meetings were most orderly—there was no trouble with the juveniles, as they were imercatsd in the meetings. The Uov Mr Ward sul the Bandof Hope was not a Wesleyan ti md of Hope ; it was quite unsectarian The following is the programme which wag i submitted ; — Dialogue, itobeit Hall and ' Andrew Hornblow. Bounds (3) Misses A. i Haigb, J. Baillie, E. Hobman, ftf. Me Mas ter • B. MoM aster, and Messrs C. Udy, H. Hawke 1 aud CaHister; Chorus by ten small hi vs • I dialogue, Harry Webster and Sydney Cole • 1 Soug, Miss Maud Leo ; Darkey Sermon, John’ I Hnrublow ; Duet, Fred Hawke and Fred * Brooks ; Dialogue, Eva aud Kate Wi>’ Trio, Misses Hilliei and Mr J. H.>* ,e > Kecitation, Eb Hornblow; Duet. ~j Minam Uihier; Song amt r brothers ; uaiitatip. Mr : hao Mwwa Hiflw »r d Mr j ’ Hob £ - l 00&1 80D8 *“ 4 :